Bottle-filling machine.



No. 775,307. PATENI'BD NOV. 22, 1904. J. H. W. OR'I'MANN & C. W. HBR-BST.

BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE. l

APPLICATION FILED JUNI: I6, 1903.

No. 775,307. PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904. J. H. W. ORTMANN & C. W. HERBST.

BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 16,1903.

NO MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 775,307. PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904. J. H. W. ORTMANN & C. W. HERBST.

BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1903.

N0 MODEL. Z 4 SHEETS-*SHEET 3.

fb' 5, ea 4 69 9 3 2K 2^; gf 652 5 6# wia/'fig No. 775,307. PATLNTED NOV. 22, 1904.

J. H. W. ORTMANN & C. W. HERBST.

BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16,1903.

f/ f/ 13j/www NTTED STATES Patented November 22, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN llllNltY VILLAM OR'IMANN ANI) CARL lVlLllELM I'IERBS'I, OF HAMBURG, GERD/[ANY BOTTLE-FILLING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 775,307, dated November 22, 1904.

Application filed June 16,1903. Serial No. 161,691. (No model) To (LZ1 wm'nt it Tit/ty conc/2771,.-

Be it known that we, JOHN HENRY TILLTAu OETMANN and CARL XVILHELM HERBST, both engineers, subjects ofl the Emperor of' Germany, residing at Hamburg, Gothenstrasse 9, and Empire of' Germany, have invented certain new and use'f'ul Improvements in Bottle- Filling Machines, of' which the following is a f'ull, clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates to improvements in bottle-filling' machines; and its object is to provide a machine of' this character whereby bottles of' any desired size may be rapidly and efliciently filled.

lu the accompanying'drawings, Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section online (il H of Fig. 2 through one portion of the machine on one side ofl the central transverse line. Fig. l is a similar view^of' thc remaining' portion of' the machine on the opposite side of the eentral transverse line. Fig. 2 is an irregular vert-ical transverse section on the line J K of' Fig. lz. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through one of' the tilling devices in an opened state. Fig. i is a similar view of the same closed. Fig. isa vertical section on line L M of Fig. l, and Fig. 6 is a vertical section showing' the construction of one of the bottle-supports.

Referring' to the drawings, 32 denotes the supporting-frame, having' the receiving and delivery portions a al and the intermediate portions ff where the operation ot' filling' is carried on.

ln the operation of' this machine it is intended to convey the bottles to be filled directly f'rom a bottle-washing machine to the filling-machine, so as to allow the water to drain therefrom on their passage. To this end the bottles are filled into boxes or trays in an inverted position to allow the water to drain out and upon arrival at the delivery end ot' the filling'- machine are restored to a standing' position by tilting' and completely turning over the bottles.

[n the construction illustrated the box, tray, or carriage B comprises a body portion divided by partitions to form compartments 2 of' an internal diameter suficient to receive the largest size bottle in general use. These compartments are closed at their lower ends by a bottom 9, which is provided with hooks ll to eng'age pins ll on the sides of' the body of the box. The upperends ofthe compartments are closed bya cover 6, which is provided with openings 7, equal in number to the compartments, for the upward passage of' the necks ot' the bottles. The cover 6 is adjustably and detachably connected to the body of' the box by corner-rods 8, which are slidably fitted in the corners of the box-body. On the sides of' the box-body are journaled rollers 3, which are designed to travel rails (not shown) extending' f'rom the washing-machine to the lilling' apparatus and also to travel sets of' rails -l and Q0, mounted upon the delivery portion a and bottle-supportingframe C of' the filling' apparatus. The rollers 3 are arranged in close relation at or about the center ot' the box, so that the latter may be tilted through them on the track-rails to adjust the box to receive the bottles and restore them to an erect position. In the operation ot filling' the bottles into the boxes the box, in inverted position, is supported from the track-rails in proximity to the washing-machine and the bottles 5 inserted neck downward into the compartments 2 with the necks projecting' through the openings 7 in the cover 6, a'f'ter which the bottom 9 is applied and the box run along' the track-rails to the delivery end fr of the filling apparatus. On approaching the said delivery end t ot' the filling' apparatus the box is inverted by tilting it on the rollers 3 and then run from the aforesaid track-rails onto the track-rails 4 of the receiving portion n of' the filling apparatus, which is provided with pegs 13 or other similar portions to receive and support the bottom 9. In their passage from the washing'- machine to the filling apparatus it will be apparent that as the bottles hang neck downward they will be quickly drained of' any water which may be lef't therein and upon being' restored to their normal position, as described, will be ready f'or delivery tto the lilling portion of' the machine.

At the upper, end of' the filling portion is a hermetically-closed tank A, which is supplied with the beer or other liquid to be filled into the bottles This tank is closed at top by a cover 29 and is supported from the frame 32 upon columns or pillars 1. At the base of the filling portion is an adjustable bottle-supporting frame C, which carries a series of bottle-supporting devices 14, corresponding in number to the compartments of each box B. Each of these bottle-supporting devices comprises a rest or stand 34, having a depending stem 36, which fits and slides in a sleeve 38, slidable in a frame C. As shown, the stem 36 is provided with heads or collars 35 and 35, which slide, respectively, in the upper and lower portions of said sleeve above and below an interposed shoulder 38. Surrounding the stem between this shoulder and the upper head or collar 35 is a comparatively weak spring 37, which exerts pressure to normally hold the stand 34 at lthe limit of its upward movement. The sleeve 38 is limited in its upward movement by a collar 39, formed thereon and adapted to engage an upper portion of the frame C, and surrounding said sleeve between said collar and the lower portion of the frame C is a spring 40, which is stiffer than the spring 37. In practice the spring 37 is made of sufficient strength to support without compression the largest size bottle designed to be filled by the machine, while the spring 40 is made relativelyT stiffer in order to eiiect a better contact between the bottles and filling devices, as hereinafter described. The stand or rest 34 is guided and held from axial movement by guide-pins 41, depending therefrom and fitting and sliding in openings in the upper portion of the frame C. The frame C is provided with rollers 42, adapted to travel upon the columns or,pillars 1, and is raised and lowered through the medium of adjusting mechanism comprising toggle-links 16 and 17, connected to and actuated by the rock-shaft 18, operatively connected to a hand-lever or other suitable actuating device 15. livery portion ai of the filling apparatus it is necessary to remove the bottom 9 of the box B in order to allow the bottles 5 to rest directly upon the bottle-supporting devices 14. This is effected by providing the bottle-supporting frame C with stop portions 10, against which the bottom 9 of the box resting on the frame portion a abuts, so that by pushing the body portion of' the box toward the center of the machine the pins 11a will ride out of engagement with the hooks 11, allowing the boxbody and bottles to move on the bottle-supporting devices independently of the bottom 9, which remains resting on the supportingpins 13. In order to support the box-body, the frame C is provided with track-rails 20, which aline with the track-rails 4. The rollers 3 of the box-body run onto these trackrails 20, and thus support the box-body so as to allow the bottles 5 to have free independent movement within the compartments 2, the

In delivering the bottles to the debod y-cover 6 by its adjustable connection with the box-body permitting the bottles to have such movement.

Between the bottle-supporting frame C and l the filling-tank A is a frame or guide-plate 21, which is provided with sleeves 22 to slide upon the columns or pillars 1 and is limited in its downward movement by stops 26 and normally held in contact therewith by resistance-springs 25, surrounding the columns between said plate and the box. This plate 21 carries a series of hollow cone-shaped guidepieces 24, adapted to receive, guide, and centerthe necks of the bottlesl and to also guide the filling devices thereto in the manner hereinafter described. The springs 25 are of such strength that the plate 21 is prevented from moving in the preliminary upward movement of the bottles under pressure therefrom, and thereby allows the bottle-necks to seat and center within the guide-pieces before completing their upward movement to receive the lling devices.

The filling mechanism of the present apparatus is of that type operating to simultaneously supply compressed air or gas and beer or other liquid to the bottles, and one object of the present invention is to provide a construction whereby the filling devices will be automatically opened when the bottles move into filling position and automatically closed when the bottles are filled. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, each filling device comprises a tube having two vertical passages 43 and 44 for the respective supply of the compressed fiuid and the liquid. This tube is slidably mounted in a bushing 45, screwed or otherwise fitted into the bottom of the tank A. In order to prevent any residue of beer or fluid from being left within the tank A, the beerpassage 44 opens through the tube into the tank, immediately above the bottom of the latter, while the compressed-Huid passage 43 extends farther upward into the tank to a point above the level of the beer. The passage 43 is controlled by a valve-lever 48, fulcrumed at 46 upon the upper end of the tube and having a weighted gravity-arm 52 to cause it to normally drop and close the upper end of said passage 43. It is also provided with a contact-arm 51 to engage an adjustable contact-plate 27, as hereinafter described. The passage 44 is controlled by a gravity slidevalve 50, moving in guides 50 and having' an upwardly-extending stem 50", sliding through the support of the lever 48 and passing through an opening in said lever and provided with a head 54 to rest thereon, so that when the lever 48 is tilted to open the passage 43 the valve 50 will be raised to open the passage 44, and in like manner when the lever 48 drops to close the passage 43 the valve 50 will drop therewith to close the passage 44. The arms 51 of the Valve-lever 48 contact with the plate IOO IOS

IIO

27 when the filling-tubes slide upwardly inI3 O the bushings i5, and are thereby opened, as l erse ol' said t'rame the filling deviees are slid will be readily understood. The plate 2T hangs susjs ended from screw-boltsor like adjusting' devices 28, which pass through openings in the top 2t) otI the tank A and are litted with :uljusting-nuts. Caps 30 cover these l l l t the bolt-holes into the tilling-tank.

ltlach tilly ing-tube is provided at its lower end with a l nozzle T which nozzle is secured upon the tube by: cap-nut and gasket 56 and is provided with a longitudinal partition 5S, dividing the bore thereof for continuation of the passages l!) and vtt for the respective supply of air and beer, these passages having lateral outlets e3 and lt. A conical seal or stopper of rubber or other similar material, is titted on the nozzle to close the mouth of the bottle when the nozzle is applied thereto.

ln the operation of the apparatus as thus far described after the bottles have been lon-ought to rest upon their supports let the operating-lever and connections are actuated to force the frame C upward on the pillars 1. Upon the movement of the frame C aprescribed distance the necks of the bottles enter the guide-pieces Q4: and are thereby centered or ln'ought into alinement with the nozzles 5T. ln the preliminary upward movement of the bottles the guide plate or frame 2l does not move, as it is held downwardby the resistance-springs Q5; but the weak springs 3T yield and allow the bottles to seat properly within the guide-pieces Q4, while the frame C continues to move upward a predetermined distance, thus perniitting the bottles to come into operative position without objectionable pressure thereon, and then after the springs 3T have allowed the bottle-holders and bottles to move downward to the proper extent the stronger springs O are brought into action and exert a resistance to farther downward movement of the bottle-holders and bottles, so that the latter will be clamped firmly against movement between the holders and guide-pieces and may be moved upward to receive the tilling devices, the resisting pressure of the springs l0 counteracting the pressure of the `springs Q5, so that under the forcing pressure of the operating mechanism the frame C will continue to move upward and carry the bottles so clamped and centered with it. At the same time the guide-frame 2l will also be forced upward until the bottles are elevated to a sufticient height to receive the nozzles of the filling' devices and to be closed by the stops or seals 53. VIn this operation it will of course be understood that the box B remains at rest, while the bottles 5 move upward within the compartments 2 and the cover 6 is adjusted upwardly with the bottles. The bottles come into engagement with the nozzles as the frame C nears the limit of its upward movement, and in the linal travto enter the mouth of the. bottle, 1

upwardly in the lmshings l. thereby bringing the contact-arms 5l ol' the valve-levers-l into engagement with the eontaet-plate 2T and opening said valve-levers and the valves 5t). lt will be observed that the connection between each valve-lever 1S and the enacting valve 5t) allows some imlependent; play between them, so that the valve LS will open just; before the valve 5t), allowiiml a small amount of air to enter the bottles in advance ot' the beer and then allowing the beer and air to feed simultaneously. As soon as the bottles are tilled the frame C is lowered and the parts restored to their normal positions` and then the box B, containing the tilled bottles, is pushed from otl the supjiiorts H onto the platform of the receiving portion f/ ot' tht` frame, where the bottles may be stoppered. At this time the box maybe lifted oli the bottles, leaving the latter standing on the platform, or the top 6 may be removed, so as to allow the bottles to be individually taken out of the compartments.

Automatic means are provided to enable the level of the liquid in the tank AV to be determined by sight from the exterior and to automatically control the supply of beer to the tankq thus preventing the beer from rising' too high and tiowing into the air-passages i3, These comprise a connection 5t), having an inlet for communication with a keg, vat, or other source of supply of the beer andan outlet 61 leading into the tank. A transparent chamber (ist, of glass or other like material, rises from the center of said connection and is closed at top by a cap 62. In this chamber operates a tloat 65, moving on a guidestem 66 and carrying a valve (5T. This valve is adapted to close an air-vent (3S, communieating with a cylinder (SS), in which operates an escapevalve (53, controlled by a weighted lever 69, adjustable to adapt the valve to blow otiI at a desired pressure. 'lhe air-spaces ot' the tloat-chamber and tank are connected by a pipe 33. Upon theinletof beer under pressure to the filling-tank the air in the tank and tloat-chamber becomes compressed and sets up a counter-pressure to the pressure ot'V the entering liquid, this comiter-pressure being regulated by the valve 63, it being understood that the counter-pressure is proportionate to the amount of beer inthe tank A.. The valve (53 is adjusted under ordinary conditions to blow ott' at a somewhatlower counter-pressure than the pressure of the iul'lowing liquid. The beer is allowed to tiow continually, for the reason that an over-pressure is exerted on the interior of the supply cask or vessel and the tlow can only be stopped when the counter-pressure rises sutticiently high to resist the said l'iow, this being broughtalmut bythe closing of the air-exit 68 by the valve 6T upon the rising of the tloat when the beer rises above the normal level. The level of the beer IOO may be readily observed at all times through the chamber 64.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying' drawings, the construction, operation, and advantages of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the Jform, proportion, aud the minor details ot' construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing' any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is4

l. In a bottle-filling machine, the combination with a tank or reservoir, of a contact device therein, a sliding dispensing-tube provided with a liquid-passage communicating with the lower portion of said tank or reservoir and a Huid-passage communicating with the upper portion of said tank or reservoir above the level oi' the liquid therein, a guideway on the side oi' the dispensing-tube above said liquid-passage, a gravity-closing' valve fulcrumed to the upper end of the dispensingtube and controlling said, fluid-passage, said valve having a trip to engage the contact device when the tube is moved in one direction, whereby said valve is opened, a sliding gravity-closing valve movable in said guideway and controlling said liquid-passage, and a connection between said valves adapting them to be successively opened, substantially as described.

2. In a bottle-iillingmachine, the combination with a iilling tank or reservoir, of a contact device therein, a dispensing device movably mounted, a governing-valve on the dispensing device adapted to eng'age and be opened by said contact device when the dispensing device is moved, and a bottle-holder adjustable to operate said dispensing device, substantially as described.

3. In a bottle-iilling machina-the combination with a iilling tank or reservoir, of a dispensing' device provided with a fluid and a liquid passage, a contact device, a valve governing said fluid-passage and adapted to be engaged and opened by the contact device, a second valve opened by the first-named valve and governing the liquid-passage, and means for bringing the contact and fluid-governing valve into engagement, substantially as described.

4. In a bottle-iillingmachine, a liquid-reservoir, a contact device therein, a dispensing device having a governing-valve adapted to be opened by said contact device, and means for bringing the valve and contact device into engagement, substantially as described.

5. In a bottle-filling machine, a liquid-reservoir, a contact device therein, a movable dispensing device having a governingvalve adapted to be opened by said contact device, and means for moving the dispensing device to bring the valve and contact device into engagement as the bottle to be filled comes into coacting relation with said dispensing device, substantially as described.

6. In a bottle-iillingmachine, a liquid-reservoir, a contact device therein, a verticallymovable dispensing device having i'iuid and liquid passages, valves governing said passages, and means for moving the dispensing device 'to cause the contact device to successively open the valves as the bottle to be iilled comes into coacting relation with said dispensing device, substantially as described.

7. In a bottle-filling machine, a liquid-reservoir, a contact device therein above the level of the liquid, a vertically-movable dispensing device having fluid and liquid passages, a gravity-valve governing the fluid-passage and having an arm to engage said contact device, a second gravity-valve governing the liquidpassage and operatively connected to the first-named valve, and means for moving the dispensing device to cause the contact device to open the valves as the bottle to be filled comes into coacting relation with said dispensing device, substantially as described.

8. Ii, a. bottle-filling machine, a liquid-reservoir, moi able dispensing devices, valve mechanism for opening and closing said dispensing devices as they are moved in one direction or the other, a bottle-carrier movable toward and from the reservoir to bring the bottles into engagement with said dispensing devices, said carrier being provided with independentlymovable bottle-supports, guides for the bottles movable in unison to guide the necks of the bottles and nozzles of the dispensing devices into engagement, and springs of different resisting forces for governing the action of said movable bottle-supports, substantially as described. v

In witness whereof we subscribe our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN HENRY WILLIAM ORTMANN. CARL WILHELM HERBST.

Vitnesses:

HANS Koor, E. H. L. MUMMENHOFF. 

